Netroots Nation Moment: Lt Dan Choi and Harry Reid
The Q&A with Harry Reid provided the most touching, spontaneous and affirming moment I've seen at any political conference in a very long time. Joan McCarter was conducting the interview, and led off by handing Senator Reid Lt. Dan Choi's West Point ring, saying that he wanted Reid to have it because it didn't have the same meaning to him that it once did. She then handed him Choi's discharge paperwork.
Senator Reid's response was, in my estimation, the best one he could have given. Reid said he would keep the ring until the bill is signed repealing DADT, at which time he would give it back to Choi. Then Choi came on stage and agreed, sealed with a hug and a promise that he would hold Reid accountable.
Truly, these moments don't happen often. They aren't just feel-good staged happy minutes. It was unscripted, heartfelt, and the audience was completely with Choi from the moment Joan produced his ring. Harry Reid could have hemmed and hawed, but he didn't. He said he would keep it as collateral against his promise to get that repeal done.
This is the power of people at work. I have no doubt Reid will do whatever he possibly can to keep that promise. I hope it comes to pass (literally pass) soon. Very soon.
I saw Obama is reaching across to the left side of the aisle there too. Must be campaign season again.
Sorry, no. Nonsense. Reid is a politician, he's not someone who gives a damn about you or I or about America, he's a politician who, like *all* politicians, is a god damned fucking criminal working for his corporate masters.
If you think some staged public relations stunt was some how poignant or meaningful, you're an idiot, a rube, a sucker.
No offense intended.
I agree with Karoli so I guess all your adjectives apply to me too. That fine by me. I will take the flack rather than see this as anything negative.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
Reid is a "fucking criminal working for his corporate masters and you are and idiot, a rube, a sucker"
GOOD THINKING. NAME CALLING IS SUCH A MOTIVATOR. LETS STAY HOME AND LET THE REPUBLICANS NARROW BASE TAKE THE MID-TURNS. THIS IS THE MESSAGE THE CORPORATIONS, THEIR MEDIA AND THEIR REPUBLICAN SOCK PUPPETS WILL BE HAMMERING HOME TIL NOVEMBER. PLEASE MR DamOTclease GO BACK TO DRUDGE AND TROLL THERE
So, who is suppose to take the lead in society? A priest, a muhla, the Pope? Oh, I see. A Republican! Of course. How stupid of me.
Reid just hates you. You're the only one he hates. Get over it.
damOTclease.
Some of you people have your heads up your ideological asses. Can't you envision just how much worse our lives would be with Angle in the Senate and Boehner/Cantor and Co. in charge? You sound like a bunch of five year olds. Wake up - reality is knocking at your door.
That was a human moment. It wasn't political. It was purely human, and genuine.
One of the benefits of real-time is the spontaneous moment. This was one. Cynicism is of no benefit to anyone. Choi wasn't acting and neither was Reid. Choi put Reid on the spot. He could have simply taken the ring and said "thank you", he could have argued that Choi keep it, or done something worthy of criticism.
What he did was human, sincere, and whether it plays out in the long term, it was a recorded moment of connection.
There's a place for cynicism and a place for its absence. It serves no purpose in this context, except to reveal an unreasonable bitterness.
with one reservation that being , if we were not in these stupid wars would this really matter ? .
every time you throw a little mud , you lose a little ground .
I get a big blank space at the top of the page where the video is supposed to be.
Anybody else?
When will government of the people, by the politicians, for the corporations perish from this Earth?
Not soon enough!
Yup!
big white space with nothing in it
I think I'll replace that video with the YouTube version.
...he mentions more than once that he wants to hold B.P. accountable.
(but if you look at his voting record) ...you find that he voted to limit oil company liability.
http://breakthematrix.com/latest/who-voted-to...
Dear Harry, (you are full of it)
audit-prosecute-incarcerate
why is it so hard for you to stay on topic?
...and I was showing everyone how Harry doesn't do what he says.
I was "demonstrating" how Harry doesn't do what he says...or say what he does!
audit-prosecute-incarcerate
Talking about honesty:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/...
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
ago or so? I thought it was a cynical ploy by the WH to take attention away from the spill - but then it disappeared. I can't for the life of me figure out why this is so hard to repeal.
This is what Choi was trying to do...get some pressure on Reid to push that ahead. I believe the repeal is supposed to be in the appropriations bill...
It just kind of disappeared from the political discussion.
Warm and cuddly is not your strong suit a political commentator, Karoli.
"There is only one way to look on a politician, and that is down".
DADT is ridiculous, insulting, hateful and unjust. Repeal it now.
Oh, my, that was classy, Sen. Reid.
"Respect for the rights of others is peace." --Benito Juarez
Ah that Harry Reid is a wiley one. The guy who voted for DOMA comes to a progressive conclave and starts riling up the base (just like right winger leaders do) over social/culture war issues during an election year. Right wing leadership did the same with anti-choice crowd--strung them along until many actually realized they were being pimped into supporting the gop and got nothing in return.
From another angle, this shows that the Dems are the socially liberal wing of the one Corporatist Party. Dems leadership and many members support the security/military state just like the gopers, but at least would allow gays to serve as soldiers.
There is no way Reid nor the Obama administration are going to act on DADT until next year, which action will probably nothing more than symbolic, heartfelt, warm, concerned, greiving over all of those gays getting kicked out of the military.
Fetch Booboo fetch me some votes.
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